Natural Disaster Data & Resources

The 211 service is a toll-free phone or online service that connects community members in need of assistance with available community resources and programs. In addition to confidentially connecting patrons with health and human services, they also provide information and support during emergency situations, disasters, or other crises.

The data.gov portal, first announced in the wake of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, features an interactive map of current disaster declarations as well as toolkits and open data for developers and engineered to get involved and build additional useful tools.

Launched in 1988 by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), the EM-DAT database is populated by core data from insurance agencies, research institutes, press publications, and NGOs on more than 22,000 mass disasters from 1900 to present day. The primary objective of EM-DAT is to collate the data needed to inform assessments of vulnerability and disaster preparedness so that government and non-governmental agencies can effectively set priorities and emergency response procedures.

ESRI is a geographic information system (GIS) company that uses satellite mapping to record and provide valuable data for understanding the space and geography around us and how we interact with it. Their Disaster Response Program (DRP) puts their GIS capabilities to work mapping disasters in real time and providing emergency contact assistance.

Risk engineer Dr. James Daniell from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Center for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Technology (CEDIM) collected and compiled socioeconomic data from nearly 35,000 natural disasters and catastrophes spanning from 1900 to present day. As the headline indicates, the damage and devastation to both people and property over the years has been quite high, particularly in impoverished or otherwise vulnerable areas of the planet.

Stop Disasters! is a free disaster simulation game created and released by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR). Players choose a disaster scenario and use their resources to upgrade infrastructure and prepare an existing community for a disaster situation while paying close attention to the instruments panel to track where the disaster might occur.

Infographics produced and created by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) detailing disaster statistics and preparedness information in clean, user-friendly graphics.

What is a natural disaster?

A natural disaster is a sudden catastrophic event, occurring as a result of earth's natural processes, that can wreak havoc on people and property. Some of these events happen only in certain areas of the planet; others can happen anywhere at any time. Some are the result of geologic processes beyond our control; others are meteorological in nature, and can be predicted well in advance. In all cases, the loss of life, personal injury, and financial and sentimental loss can be immense.

This online resource guide features in-depth information and data on the most common types of environmental hazards, the organizations dedicated to studying and helping to mitigate the death and damage their destructive power can cause, and helpful tips for how you can recognize, prepare, and respond to these environmental hazards should the unthinkable ever occur.

Watch vs. Warning

In instances of extreme weather or forecasted storms, you may see your local weather channel or emergency weather station issuing a "tornado watch" or a "hurricane warning". What's the difference?

When a watch is issued, it means that conditions are such that the forecasted weather anomaly or storm could easily happen, but it has not yet and may even dissipate. Staying alert and cautious is recommended, but emergency precautions are not yet required.

When a warning is issued, it means that the forecasted severe weather hazard is either already occurring or is directly imminent. In a watch situation, immediate safety precautions depending on the hazard in question should be observed, particularly if you are in or near a heavily affected area.

Tasked primarily with protecting the environment and human health, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains natural disaster response information and resources as part of their commitment to protecting the environment.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), now part of the US Department of Homeland Security, was founded in 1979 to coordinate and provide federal disaster first response resources and personnel, especially in situations when local and regional resources may require assistance.

The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) was adopted by the UN in 1999, establishing a secretariat dedicated to helping realize four key action points outlined by the 2015 Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction: understanding risk, strengthening governance to manage risk, investing in risk reduction infrastructure, and enhancing disaster preparedness and response.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a governmental office dedicated to the study of the science of natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, volcanoes, and wildfires and their effects on our ecosystems and environment.

Though not explicitly charged with responding to natural disasters, the World Health Organization (WHO) responds to emergencies that involve public health such as viral outbreaks, extreme droughts and famines, and other crises which affect the availability of health care providers in a region. WHO has regional offices all over the world, including one specifically for the Americas.